Judge Keeps Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund Frozen as Court Seeks Formal Withdrawal

• Judge Brinkema kept Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion fund blocked indefinitely.
• Administration must submit sworn declarations from Blanche and Bessent.
• Critics questioned eligibility rules while commission and payouts never formed.

US District Judge Leonie Brinkema has indefinitely blocked President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, ruling that administration statements alone do not prove the initiative has been abandoned. The Virginia judge extended a previous temporary injunction after concluding that key questions remain unanswered. Specifically, she said the administration has not provided sufficient evidence that the fund will never be revived.

As a result, Brinkema ordered the Justice Department to submit sworn declarations from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent within one week. Those declarations must clearly state that the administration will not move forward with the fund.

If the government submits the requested statements, Brinkema indicated she may consider dismissing the lawsuit. However, until then, the court order blocking the proposal will remain in effect. The ruling highlights a growing dispute over whether public assurances from administration officials are enough to end legal challenges. While Blanche told Congress on June 2 that the administration was not pursuing the fund, Brinkema found those remarks insufficient.

Another federal judge in Washington accepted Blanche’s statement and declined to issue a separate injunction. However, Brinkema reached a different conclusion after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the proposal.

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Judge points to unresolved questions over fund’s future

A major concern for the court involves the lack of a formal rescission. Although Blanche publicly stated that the fund would not proceed, the May 18 order creating it remains in place. Moreover, President Trump has continued defending the proposal in public appearances. During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said victims should receive the money they deserve, reinforcing his support for the initiative.

During the hearing, Justice Department attorney Andrew Block acknowledged that he could not explain why no formal withdrawal had occurred. He also told the court that he did not have direct access to Blanche to obtain that answer. Brinkema described that absence of clarity as a significant gap in the government’s position. Consequently, she concluded that the lawsuit should continue unless stronger evidence is provided.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund originated from efforts to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the disclosure of his tax returns. Trump argued that individuals who faced unfair investigations or prosecutions deserved compensation. Critics strongly opposed the proposal. Congressional Democrats argued that the fund could direct taxpayer money toward Trump allies. Additionally, they raised concerns that some individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack could become eligible for compensation.

Blanche previously declined to rule out violent January 6 participants from applying for benefits. That position intensified criticism surrounding the proposed fund. No payments were ever distributed through the program. Furthermore, officials never established the five-member commission responsible for determining eligibility requirements and payout criteria.

Conclusion

The administration now faces a one-week deadline to provide the sworn declarations requested by Brinkema. If it fails to do so, the legal challenge will continue while the court’s block on the $1.8 billion fund remains in place.

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